Interview with Miles Dyson, DJ, producer and CEO. Plus, win two vinyl!

Miles ‘Millionaire’ Dyson rules the music industry. Or at least it seems like he does after we discovered he runs 15 labels, employing 260 artists (not including label staff) and controls the entire production process from manufacture to marketing. All this from his humble beginnings as a 13 year old DJ. He’s the techno Sir Alan Sugar.

Matt Young aka DJ Wub caught up with him while he was being helicoptered between gigs. Interview after the jump plus your chance to get two bits of Dyson vinyl absolutely free!

You’ve been described as the ‘techno producer that breaks & electro DJs love’. Is this an apt description?

Hopefully! I do know how hard it is being accepted as a producer throughout different genres so I enjoy this situation more. I grew up with all different styles such as breakbeat, techno, trance and house from the early nineties onwards and that’s exactly what gas found its way into my own productions. Not to mention that not even my publishing company PLASMAPOOL has a certain focus on any genre. Owning 15 labels just gives me plenty of rope to serve all styles to all electronic music lovers out there.

Your music straddles the house/techno/electro genres. Do you think of your style being more one than the others?

Actually I’m a very economic person when it comes to making music. Tech, electro, prog, house and techno are simply the biggest genres concerning economic matters. Since I run a big company I constantly grew a big sense of responsibility to my employees as well as to the more than 260 contractually signed artists of my labels. That’s the main reason why I currently serve the main genres… but doesn’t mean any genre has less ‘worth’ than any other. I love’em all. They’re always a big inspiration for my own stuff.

You’re now touring a live show rather than DJing. Why did you make the decision to switch and does it feel different as a performer or in terms of crowd reaction?

Basically because I’m the world’s laziest person. After the first digital download stores came on the market the whole electronic music scene became much more GLOBAL and hundreds, thousands of new labels came up with new releases weekly which you simply couldn’t get hold of before that time as the distribution ways were simply (sorry) SHIT! But back in the days of going to your local record dealer weekly to get hands on pre-selected new records made it easier finding cool stuff. Today you have to listen through a couple of thousand new tracks every week online to be up-to-date and after listening to hundreds of demos for my labels weekly I just wasn’t fancying listening to more and more tunes anymore… All I need now is my Macbook, soundcard, midi-controllers and the latest productions and releases from my labels. It’s made life sooo much easier!

As well as producing and performing, you’re involved in the whole running of your label. Can you tell us a bit about that and how does being totally independent help?

Well, currently I own 15 labels, a distribution company and a few production studios around the globe. Being independent never was something I aimed at, I just created the whole system to have hands on every single step from the production from scratch up to marketing, distribution, sales and research. It was just a logical step not being forced to pay other companies to do things you can do on your own which means ‘maximizing income’, ultimately good for me and the artists involved. That way I can offer them a higher percentage and a better service.

When you’re not producing, what can be found on your stereo?

I always produce! But when I’m not in my studio, I try to keep it calm. I spend some 14-16 hours per day working on/with music… mastering, release preparations, my own productions, so it’s good sometimes to keep the stereo off.

Your DJing schedule takes you to a far few destinations – do you find the crowds that you are playing to differ from city-to-city and which is your favourite?

Sure, crowds are never the same wherever you are. That keeps the whole thing interesting. My favourite countries are UK, Canada, USA (Eaaaaaasssstcoast), Australia and Brazil. Those areas have by far the best crowds and the fattest parties and I spend some 8-10 months per year touring there.

What are your interests outside of the field of music?

Online real time Stock Market Trading! But honestly that happens when I’m in the studio on two additional screens. I love the thrill!

Beer, wine or spirit, which is your preferred drink?

Oh sorry, none of them! Just plain water and juice and too much coffee. This job, with travelling, studio, jetlag , lack of sleep, inconvenient transatlantic flights, is way too exhausting to torture your body with such bad things.

Finally, complete the sentence – “Miles Dyson is…”

“….yehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!”

We have 12″s of Miles Dyson’s ‘Unreleased Sessions Vol. 4′ and ‘Live in…’ to give away. Simply e-mail club@thefatclub.com with your name and address and ten people we pick at random next week will win them!

You can buy advance tickets now to hear Miles play Chew the Fat! at The Arches on July 31st.